Children & Poverty Seminar

PSY 23090 / CSC 23090

Seminar Learning Agreement

Immersion Dates: During Spring Break: Sunday, March 8 - Saturday, March 14, 2009

Location: New York City
Size: 12 students
Cost: $200

Apply Online
Application Deadline: January 22, 2009

Seminar Instructors:

Elizabeth Sauer

Stacey Scott

Jay Brandenberger

Course Overview

The Children and Poverty Seminar is a unique opportunity for student participants to examine important issues, both domestic and international, with respect to children and youth challenged by poverty and related concerns.   The Seminar will focus in particular on education, early intervention, resilience, violence prevention, and foster care. Participants will begin their exploration during orientation sessions, where the current state of children in poverty will be examined, with insights from educators and youth advocates. Students will help present relevant organizations and issues to the group during the orientation sessions in order to prepare for the visits in New York City.

During a week of immersion in New York City, participants will learn from individuals and community-based organizations.   Visits with both children and program administrators will enable participants to experience first-hand the realities of growing up in poverty.   In addition, the learning opportunities uniquely presented by New York City will be jointly utilized to enhance the experience. Following the week-long immersion, participants will have the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences through daily facilitated discussions centered around local children's organizations and solution-centered outcomes to the problems concerning youth and poverty.

Course Objectives

• To provide opportunities for participants to examine the social contexts of children's issues and related policy matters through contact with agencies, schools, and related organizations.
• To expose participants to the realities of youth in poverty contexts through community-based learning (including observation and brief service).
• To provide the opportunity for students to reflect upon how their own vocations might include issues of poverty and/or working with youth, through discussion and encountering others who have chosen such professional avenues.

Course Requirements

This Seminar is a one-credit psychology course graded "S" or "U". To receive an "S" grade, the following must be completed in a satisfactory manner. All requirements are to be completed during the spring semester.

• The participant must attend and participate in all required orientation and follow-up classes. Participants must obtain prior permission for an absence from the staff and student coordinators.
• Participants are encouraged to work together to promote community-building activities prior to the week in New York City (which may include fund-raising).
• Participants are required to write a 5 to 6 page integration paper as part of the learning experience. The paper requirements may also be fulfilled by completing a special project such as a video, a website, or a photo essay on a particular issue, etc. Group projects may also be done.   Approval from the faculty and student coordinators must be obtained for all special or group projects. Please see paper guidelines for more information (this will be given during one of the orientation sessions).

Application Process

• Apply Online. The deadline to apply is January 22, 2009
• Saint Mary's College students must contact Sally Burns for application and registration instructions.
• By completing the application, you are agreeing to all requirements of the Cultural Diversity Seminar.All applicants will be notified regarding seminar selection by email. If you are applying to more than one seminar, you will receive a single email noting whether or not you have been selected to participate, and the name of the seminar you will be taking part in.
  

Criteria For Selection

• The Seminar is open to any student in good standing at the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary's College. Students are to conduct themselves according to the policies listed in DU LAC.
• An open mind, enthusiasm, and an expressed interest in the learning goals of this Seminar are the primary criteria for selection. All participants are expected to become acquainted with one another, with current legislation, and related Catholic social teachings through discussions of readings, personal experiences, and observations.

Course Registration

• You will receive an email notification on a) whether you have been selected to participate in a seminar and b) which seminar you have been selected to participate in. (This circumstance applies if you have applied to more than one seminar.)
• Subsequently, the course instructor will email instructions on course registration, and you will need to register within the first seven days of the semester. Contact the Assistant Dean's office of your college if you are over the maximum number of credit hours allowed by your College or if you have a class time conflict. The assistant deans of your college will be able to grant special approval.

Fees and Expenses

• The fee for the Seminar will be $250, which will help defray the costs of transportation, housing, and donations to agencies and host organizations.   Since transportation is provided, students may not use their own vehicles. This fee will be assessed through student accounts after the last day to drop.
• If you are accepted into the Seminar, decide not to participate and notify the Center before the last day to drop noted on the calendar below, your student account will be billed a $40 cancellation fee. If you are accepted into the Seminar, decide not to participate and notify the Center after the last day to drop, your student account will be billed the full $250. (This is necessary because the Center has pre-paid expenses of the Seminar based on your acceptance into the program, and your acceptance may have precluded someone else from participating.)  Additional costs for food and social opportunities will be incurred (several past participants have spent an additional $100 during their time in NYC).      

***Limited financial aid is available.  To apply for financial aid, please contact Sally Burns to request a financial aid application. Or if you have questions, please contact Dr. Jay Brandenberger.

CALENDAR SPRING 2009

Thurs., Jan. 22, 2009
Online application deadline.

Sun., Jan. 25
Acceptance confirmed by email. If you apply to more than one seminar, you will receive ONE email for the seminar you have been admitted into.

Wed., Jan. 28
Last date to register. You must register with ND's online system by the end of the day.

Fri., Jan. 30

Final day to drop. Change of course forms must be turned into the CSC

Thurs., Mar. 5

Seminar Send-Off Mass, 7 pm; Alumni Hall Chapel

Sun., Mar. 8 - Sat, Mar. 14
Immersion in New York City.

There will be two class meetings before the immersion and three class meetings after the immersion.

Dates and times to be announced.